244 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir Rasa, [No. 3, 



The emperor sent a herald to the Rao with proposals of peace. He 

 wrote, " Pardon my faults, brave Chohan, and effect a reconciliation. En- 

 joy undisputed your land and territory in the heart of Bajputana. I have 

 made up my mind to return to Dehli." 



When Hamir got the letter, he thus replied, " "We are both on the 

 field ; we have come here to fight, and not to sue for peace. I cannot grant 

 this request. He who uses humble words, words of weakness before an 

 enemy clad in mail, is a coward, and nothing but a coward ; or if you have 

 any other motive, Emperor, be sure, it will bear no fruit." (To the herald.) 

 " Go, herald, go to your emperor, and tell him that I am ready with my 

 troops and will never go away without fighting with him." 



Hamir to his vassals. — " My brave Sirdars, do just as I bid you. The 

 Rajputs fight with thirty-six arms ; but mind, in this battle, we will use four 

 only — swords, daggers, Iclianjars and tisdns. Be glorious by fighting the 

 emperor with these weapons, leaving aside the use of fire-arms — cannon, 

 tan, chaddar, hat hnctr, jamb hur, muskets, pistols and guns. Fall on the Mu- 

 hammadan forces ; but see, you do not kill Ala-uddin : if you die, you are 

 sure to go to heaven and live there with handsome Apsaras for evermore." 



The Sirdars obeyed his orders. Clad in clothes dyed with saffron and 

 fastening the crowns of marriage on their heads, they attacked the Muham- 

 rnadan ranks. 



There was not a single fire-arm, neither were there any bows and ar- 

 rows. Swords only were played. The emperor came to the field, full of 

 rage. Both the parties met. Throats, hands and legs dropped on the 

 ground. Bodies were cut off in the middle, as the sharp edge of a saw divides 

 a block of wood. Many a head fell, but the body rose and danced horribly 

 on the field. The headless trunk of a Chohan made a rush and drove 

 the trunk of a Muhammadan away. The severed heads shrieked and 

 shouted, and their shouts sent a thrill to the hearts of the living soldiers. 

 Daggers were run through, held in determined hands. Khanjars (bat- 

 tle-axes) opened large wounds on the chests, and bisdns (short poniards 

 firmly attached to the fist) stabbed hearts of adamant. The field wore a 

 very gay appearance, being ornamented with five different colours. The 

 Bakshi was put to the sword. The moment he fell, the troops of the 

 emperor ran away in confusion. There was a terrible din on the field. It 

 seemed as if the dead rose and shouted with fury, opening their bloody 

 jaws and extending their hands to fight. At the fall of the Bakshi, 

 Ala-tiddin himself reined his elephant aside. Only his Vazir was with him. 

 A body of Chohan soldiers surrounded the elephant. 



" Do not slay the emperor," exclaimed Hamir at the top of his voice, 

 " do not slay him, for such is not the virtue of the Kshatriya. It is a sin 



